Electronic system with a composite substrate

Abstract

A composite substrate made of a circuit board mounted on a lead frame is used for an electronic system package. High heat generated electronic components are adapted to mount on the lead frame and relatively low heat generated electronic components are adapted to mount on the circuit board. Metal lines are used for electrical coupling between the circuitry of the IC chip and the circuit board. An electronic system with the composite substrate gains both advantages—good circuitry arrangement capability from the circuit board and good heat distribution from the lead frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic system with a composite substrate, comprising:
 a lead frame having a plurality of metal leads; 
 a circuit board mounted on said lead frame and having circuitry; and 
 a chip mounted on said lead frame and electrically coupled to the circuitry of said circuit board; 
 wherein the circuitry of said circuit board includes electronic components having lower heat generation than said chip; 
 said lead frame further comprises a chip mounting metal area, said metal leads arranged along a periphery of said chip mounting metal area, each said metal lead spaced from said chip mounting metal area by a gap, said circuit board bridging the gap between each said metal lead and said chip mounting metal area, and said chip mounted on said chip mounting metal area; and 
 said circuit board further comprises:
 opposite top and bottom surfaces; 
 top contacts on the top surface, the top contacts overlapping said chip mounting metal area and electrically coupled to said chip and the circuitry of said circuit board; and 
 bottom contacts on the bottom surface and electrically coupled to corresponding metal leads of said lead frame. 
 
 
     
     
       2. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said system is a DC to DC converter system. 
     
     
       3. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a molding compound having a bottom surface flush with bottom surfaces of said lead frame to form a flat bottom surface mount package. 
 
     
     
       4. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said chip is disposed within an opening made through said circuit board. 
     
     
       5. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a molding compound having a bottom surface flush with bottom surfaces of said lead frame to form a flat bottom surface mount package. 
 
     
     
       6. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said chip is disposed within a U-shape indentation of said circuit board. 
     
     
       7. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a molding compound having a bottom surface flush with bottom surfaces of said lead frame to form a flat bottom surface mount package. 
 
     
     
       8. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said chip is disposed within an L-shape indentation of said circuit board. 
     
     
       9. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a molding compound having a bottom surface flush with bottom surfaces of said lead frame to form a flat bottom surface mount package. 
 
     
     
       10. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said chip is disposed neighboring to a side of said circuit board. 
     
     
       11. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a molding compound having a bottom surface flush with bottom surfaces of said lead frame to form a flat bottom surface mount package. 
 
     
     
       12. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a molding compound having a bottom surface flush with bottom surfaces of said lead frame to form a flat bottom surface mount package. 
 
     
     
       13. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mat disposed under said chip and elevating a top surface of said chip to be flush with a top surface of said circuit board. 
 
     
     
       14. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom contacts on the bottom surface of said circuit board are aligned, in plan view, with the corresponding metal leads of said lead frame. 
     
     
       15. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said circuit board further comprises:
 conductive lines on the top surface of said circuit board and coupling the top contacts of said circuit board with the circuitry of said circuit board. 
 
     
     
       16. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein
 said chip comprises:
 opposite top and bottom surfaces, wherein the bottom surface of said chip is mounted on said lead frame; and 
 top contacts on the top surface of said chip; and 
 
 said system further comprises conductive wires coupling the top contacts on the top surface of said chip with the top contacts on the top surface of said circuit board, wherein said chip is electrically coupled to the circuitry of said circuit board via the conductive wires and the conductive lines on the top surface of said circuit board. 
 
     
     
       17. An electronic system with a composite substrate, comprising:
 a lead frame having a chip mounting metal area and a plurality of metal leads arranged along a periphery of said chip mounting metal area, each said metal lead spaced from said chip mounting metal area by a gap; 
 a circuit board mounted on said lead frame and having circuitry, said circuit board bridging the gap between each said metal lead and said chip mounting metal area; and 
 a chip mounted on said chip mounting metal area of said lead frame and electrically coupled to the circuitry of said circuit board; 
 wherein said circuit board further comprises:
 opposite top and bottom surfaces; 
 top contacts on the top surface, the top contacts overlapping said chip mounting metal area and electrically coupled to said chip and the circuitry of said circuit board; and 
 bottom contacts on the bottom surface, the bottom contacts aligned with and coupled to corresponding metal leads of said lead frame. 
 
 
     
     
       18. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said circuit board further comprises:
 conductive lines on the top surface of said circuit board and coupling the top contacts of said circuit board with the circuitry of said circuit board. 
 
     
     
       19. An electronic system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein
 said chip comprises:
 opposite top and bottom surfaces, wherein the bottom surface of said chip is mounted on said lead frame; and 
 top contacts on the top surface of said chip; and 
 
 said system further comprises conductive wires coupling the top contacts on the top surface of said chip with the top contacts on the top surface of said circuit board, wherein said chip is electrically coupled to the circuitry of said circuit board via the conductive wires and the conductive lines on the top surface of said circuit board.